Where does “bacterium” come from?
bacterium (New Latin) comes from Ancient Greek βακτήριον, from Ancient Greek βακτηρία, from Proto-Indo-European baḱ- — club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg.
Ancestry of “bacterium”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | βακτήριον | Synonym of βακτηρία |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | βακτηρία | rod, staff, cane; baton |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | baḱ- | club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg |